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From hard liquor to hard seltzer, alcoholic beverages are an almost ubiquitous part of many modern cultures: wine with dinner, beer with friends on the weekend, celebratory champagne toasts, etc. However, because alcohol is a drug that can significantly affect a person's judgment and physical abilities, many countries age-restrict the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Effects of alcohol on the body In chemical terms, alcohol is an organic compound produced when grains, vegetables or fruits are allowed to ferment. Medically, alcohol is classified as a depressant (as opposed to stimulants like caffeine or hallucinogens like psilocybin) with a wide range of physiological effects. Most of these effects involve a reduction or inhibition of physical activity. For example, alcohol inhibits physical motor function and slows reaction time. Consequently, the more one drinks, the slower and more sluggish one becomes. Similarly, alcohol also inhibits the brain's communication pathways. T...